The Michigan festival season is in full swing: Check out these upcoming events around the state

Summer means festival season is in full swing. Looking ahead to the next few weeks, there are festivals that celebrate everything from cherries to dairy -- and of course, the 4th of July. Hop in the car and head to one of these community celebrations for a slice of old-fashioned Americana -- and in many cases, pie.

Some fun facts:

-The National Cherry Festival (July 2-9, 2011) set a world record by baking the world's largest cherry pie on July 25, 1987. The pie was 17 ft 6 in and weighed in at 28,350 pounds.

American Polish FestivalA pierogi-eating contest is new this year at the American Polish Festival in Sterling Heights.

-For the first time ever, the American Polish Festival in Sterling Heights (July 8-10, 2011) is holding a pierogi-eating contest billed as "Hundreds of pierogi. One Champion." For $20, entrants get 10 minutes to eat as many cheese- and potato-filled pierogi as they can. The winners get prizes and according to the festival website, a guaranteed place in history. You could enter to win, or enter just because it will be really, really good pierogi.

-The town of Elsie, which hosts an annual Elsie Dairy Festival (July 7-9, 2011), features Elsie the Cow as the mascot of this annual event. You'll know you're there by the big statue of the aforementioned cow that stands outside the village hall. (An interesting side note, they don't call their royalty "The Dairy Queen." Guess that name was already taken.)

-Unleash your inner lumberjack during the lumberjack competition that is held as part of Luther Logging Days (July 1-3, 2011), an annual celebration of lumber and logging heritage.